Measuring the information society and statistics on science, technology and innovation

The Bureau reviewed measuring information society in November 2010, and concluded that a lot of work is being done by different agencies in the area, and the work could be better coordinated.

In June 2011, the Conference noted the need for better coordination of the initiatives and for the development of a conceptual framework.

Outcome of the review

The Secretariat with Australia and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) made an inventory of the groups working in this area.

The Bureau asked OECD to inform the OECD Working Party on indicators for the information society (WPIIS) about the outcome of this review.

The Bureau noted that the need to develop UN standards to measure information society should be raised at the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC).

Related initiatives

In 2012, UNSC reviewed the work of the Partnership on Measuring Information and Communication Technology for Development and agreed with their recommendations for improvement of ICT statistics.

In 2013, the Partnership informed the UNSC that the revision of the Frascati Manual for Surveys of Research and Development is planned for 2013-2014. The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) carried out the first global pilot data collection was carried out in 2011. Their report to the UNSC also informed that a patent statistics Task Force was created to promote the coordination of activities in that area.